Action of 10 April 1795

Capture of La Gloire April 10th 1795, Thomas Whitcombe, 1816, National Maritime Museum

Date	10–11 April 1795
Location	Western Approaches, Atlantic Ocean
Result	British victory

Belligerents

Great Britain

France

Commanders and leaders

Rear-Admiral John Colpoys

Captain Beens

Strength

5 ships of the line and 2 frigates. Only frigate HMS Astraea heavily engaged

frigates Gloire, Gentille and Fraternité

Casualties and losses

1 killed, 7 wounded

40 killed and wounded. Gloire and Gentille captured.

Coordinates: 49°30′N 10°46′W / 49.500°N 10.767°W / 49.500; -10.767

The Action of 10 April 1795 was a minor naval engagement during the French Revolutionary Wars in which a squadron of French Navy frigates was intercepted by a British battle squadron under Rear-Admiral John Colpoys which formed part of the blockade of the French naval base of Brest in Brittany. The French squadron split up in the face of superior British numbers, the three vessels seeking to divide and outrun the British pursuit. One frigate, Gloire was followed by the British frigate HMS Astraea and was ultimately brought to battle in a closely fought engagement. Although the ships were roughly equal in size, the British ship was easily able to defeat the French in an engagement lasting just under an hour.

The other French ships were pursued by British ships of the line and the chase lasted much longer, into the morning of 11 April when HMS Hannibal caught the frigate Gentille. Hannibal was far larger than its opponent and the French captain surrendered immediately rather than fight a futile engagement. The third French frigate, Fraternité successfully escaped. After refitting in Portsmouth, Colpoys' ships returned to their station off Brest, the blockade remaining in place for the remainder of the year.

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